Purno Agitok Sangma was elected to the Lok Sabha for the fifth time from the Tura constituency in the 1996 elections. On May 23, 1996, he was unanimously elected the Speaker of the eleventh Lok Sabha with universal support cutting across all political parties. In half a century of Indian parliamentary history, he was the first member from the Opposition to hold the office of the Speaker.

Sangma was Speaker from May 23, 1996 till March 23, 1998.

A major initiative taken by Speaker Sangma was the convening of a Special Session of both the Houses of Parliament from August 26 to September 1, 1997 as part of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of India's Independence. The Session took stock of the achievements and also set a National Agenda for the future.